4242. And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye say unto my lord Esau. That this signifies the first acknowledgment of good as being in the higher place, may be seen from the signification here of “commanding the messengers to say,” as being reflection and the consequent perception that it is so (see n. 3661, 3682), consequently acknowledgment; and from the representation of Esau, as being good (n. 4234, 4239). That good was in the higher place is signified by his not calling Esau his “brother,” but his “lord,” and also (as follows) by his calling himself his “servant,” and afterwards speaking in the same manner. (That while man is being regenerated truth is apparently in the first place and good in the second; but good in the first place and truth in the second when he has been regenerated, may be seen above, n. 1904, 2063, 2189, 2697, 2979, 3286, 3288, 3310, 3325, 3330, 3332, 3336, 3470, 3509, 3539, 3548, 3556, 3563, 3570, 3576, 3579, 3603, 3701.) This is also what is meant by the prophetic utterance of Isaac the father to Esau his son:

By thy sword shalt thou live, and thou shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck (Genesis 27:40).

It is the inversion of state foretold in these prophetic words which is treated of in the present chapter.

3384. And Isaac dwelt in Gerar. That this signifies the Lord’s state in regard to the things of faith relatively to the rational things that were to be adjoined, is evident from the signification of “dwelling in Gerar,” as being to be in the things which are of faith; thus the state in regard to these things; for “to dwell” signifies to live (n. 1293), and “Gerar” signifies the things which are of faith, (n. 1209, 2504, 3365)—and from the representation of Isaac, as being the Lord as to the Divine rational (n. 1893, 2066, 2072, 2083, 2630). That it is relatively to the rational things that were to be adjoined, is evident from what goes before and from what follows; for in this whole chapter these things are treated of, namely, the rational things which when enlightened by the Divine of the Lord are appearances of truth.

[2] That “to dwell” denotes to be and to live, thus the state, is evident from many passages in the Word. As in David:

I will dwell in the house of Jehovah for length of days (Psalms 23:6). One thing have I asked of Jehovah, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life (Psalms 27:4). He that worketh deceit shall not dwell in the midst of My house (Psalms 101:7); where “dwelling in the house of Jehovah” denotes being and living in the good of love, for this is the “house of Jehovah.”

In Isaiah:

They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined (Isaiah 9:2);

“they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death” denotes the state of those who are in ignorance of good and truth. Again:

Babel shall not be inhabited forever (Isaiah 13:20);

denoting the state of damnation of those who are “Babel.”

[3] Again:

O Jehovah God of Israel that inhabitest the cherubim (Isaiah 37:16); O shepherd of Israel inhabiting the cherubim, shine forth (Psalms 80:1);

“to inhabit the cherubim” is the Lord as to a state of providence, lest anyone should enter into the holy things of love and faith unless prepared by the the Lord, (n. 308).

In David:

In peace will I both lay me down and sleep, for Thou Jehovah alone makest me dwell in safety (Psalms 4:8);

“to make to dwell in safety” signifies a state of peace.

In Jeremiah:

O thou that dwellest upon many waters, great in treasures, thine end is come, the measure of thy gain (Jeremiah 51:13); concerning Babel; “dwelling upon many waters” denotes being in knowledges concerning truth.

[4] In Daniel:

God Himself revealeth the deep and secret things, He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with Him (Daniel 2:22); where “dwelling” denotes being. Again in the same Prophet:

Under that tree the beast of the field had shadow, and the fowls of heaven dwelt in the branches thereof (Daniel 4:12).

And in Ezekiel:

Under its branches all the wild beast of the field brought forth, and in its shadow dwelt all great nations (Ezekiel 31:6); where “dwelling” denotes being and living.

In Hosea:

The threshing-floor and the wine-press shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail her. They shall not dwell in the land of Jehovah; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt (Hos. 9:2-3);

“not to dwell in the land of Jehovah” denotes not to be in a state of the good of love, consequently not in the Lord’s kingdom.